Photokina 2012: Interview - John Carlson of Pentax

Pentax hasn't been idle in 2012, and just before the opening of Photokina, it refreshed its popular K-5 DSLR, releasing two new models, the K-5 II and the K-5 IIS, which lacks an anti-aliasing filter, for greater detail resolution. Barnaby Britton caught up with John Carlson, Sr. Manager of Sales & Marketing at Pentax Imaging USA, and asked him about the new DSLRs, the K-01, and the evolution of the Q.

John, Pentax has just released new new models, why should someone choose Pentax over other brands?

The weather sealing, the image quality, they're the obvious ones, but then there's the heritage of the K-mount, which has been around for almost 30 years. So there's a huge legacy of lenses, whether people own them already or whether they pick them up on Ebay, they can use the lenses on any of our current DSLR bodies, and even the K-01. Or on the Q, with the new adapter. This is a huge advantage that most companies don't have.

What are your biggest challenges in the enthusiast DSLR space, at the moment?

It's really that Pentax has a smaller market share, so we have a smaller voice and while we do have great products it's not as well-known. We've got to depend more on the fact that we have great products rather than just having a well-known name. So that's a big challenge, but overall, you look at the feature set [of the K5 II/S] and it's a very good offering.

What are your DSLR customers asking for?

They are asking for more lenses, I think also one thing that we've addressed in the K5 II/S compared to the K5 is we've added an improved autofocus system, which people have been asking for for years, saying that it's not good enough in certain situations. We made an effort with the K-5 II to make it perform in those conditions, especially focus in low light.

The K-5 IIs and the K-5 II are the two major new models at the stand this year.

Both offer an upgraded AF-system (SAFOX X) that works in very low light levels. The 's' version comes without an anti-aliasing filter.

How will you be addressing the demands of your customers in the future?

I think Ricoh will probably invest a lot in the imaging side of Pentax and Ricoh as we work together, and I think they have a lot of important knowledge that they can bring to Pentax, whether that's in lenses, the cameras themselves, or the output, or connectivity. Ricoh brings a lot to Pentax.

How is the relationship with Ricoh working at the moment?

Pretty great. I think we're still in the phase of integrating the two companies, and we haven't yet seen the impact of what they have to offer yet, so I think we'll start to see that in the coming months.

Did Ricoh have much influence in the new cameras?

No, those cameras were already on the drawing board, and underway [when Ricoh and Pentax merged]

Is there room for a higher-end Pentax K-mount DSLR?

We have the 645D, and Pentax is dedicated to that system, but whether there's room between the K-5 cameras and the 645, I can't say.

Will there be a full-frame K-mount model in the future?

All I can say is that we're studying the market.

What's the reaction been like to the K-01?

It's been very good in certain communities. In the design community, it is very well-accepted. You look at the name Mark Newsom, and in that community, among designers, people realize it's probably the least expensive Mark Newsom-designed product that you can buy! And it's got a lot of the technology of the K-5 in it, it's a great video tool, it's just not traditional in its layout, size and shape. The traditional photo community maybe doesn't quite understand it, but for the right customer it's a great offer, because it does shoot great stills, it does shoot great video, and it's got the style and the design…

The Pentax K-01 is one of two mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras in the company's lineup (the other being the tiny Q10) and features a lot of the same technology as the K-5 DSLR.

How are you planning on developing mirrorless in the future? Or is the K-01 a one-off?

I haven't seen any future roadmaps for that type of product.

Samsung told us that in the future the a non-'connected' camera will be meaningless. What do you think?

I think there's room for non-connected cameras but I won't deny the fact that connectivity is very important, whether it's via Eye-Fi cards, or natively in-camera, there are more and more solutions coming out every day. I think it's very important but I think also there are opportunities for non-connected cameras as well.

What is Pentax doing to meet the demand for connectivity in its cameras?

Right now we don't have anything other than Eye-Fi compatibility. But we're researching the technology.

Let's talk about the Pentax Q. What has the reaction to the Q been like in the market as a whole?

It's been interesting because a lot of Pentax's sales are online. And it's difficult in that kind of environment to really show the camera and the size of the camera, and the size of the system. Because that's the reaction we get when we show the Q at trade shows and retailers. When we show the Q people are really blown away by the size. So the way I like to see it, it's less a replacement for an SLR as a complement to an SLR. It's better than a compact, better than a cellphone, and you get DSLR-like features and functions.

The Q10 is Pentax Ricoh's newest addition to the Q-line of interchangeable lens compact cameras.

It features an upgraded 12MP CMOS sensor and there's even an adapter to attach K-mount lenses (if you can live with the 5.5X crop factor)

A lot of the feedback that we got about the Pentax Q was about its price.

Yes, I think we recognized that rather too late. Once the camera started going on sale for $350-400, that's when we started to see sales, the new Q, the Q10 is $599 with a zoom lens, and that's probably what the original model should have been.

Will Pentax users start seeing more of your cameras in store shelves in future?

Yes. We're very actively going after the traditional photo specialty dealers. We had great success [in the US] with Target this year, with our waterproof compact camera, and that really helped, people seeing our name and our brand out there, but we're actively pursuing the photo specialty market.

Comments

Why prefer Pentax to other brands, when you can sure take fantastic pictures with all of them?

Well, what Mr Carlson doesn't talk about, unfortunately, is that in Pentax, from the K-7 upwards, weather sealing goes together with a trust-inspiringly solid, yet compact build quality rarely seen elsewhere in that class. How much fun it is to go out and shoot these cameras - because they fit your hand like a glove, and shooting becomes such an intuitive, straightforward, easily-flowing process. Or about the wonderful old-school pentaprism viewfinders that show you a 100 percent of what you will get. Or the gorgeous line of affordable Limited prime lenses with their almost Leica-like build quality and excellent optics. Pentax just needs to get the word out.

If now the K-5 IIs should turn out to be one of the highest-resolving APS-C cameras, with an IQ bordering on, say, 5D Mark II territory (without as much bulk to log around), what more could you ask of a field camera?

It's easy to obsess over gear, but this is a discussion (and a site) more about gear than about the act of photography. And let's face it....many of us talk a lot more about new gear than we actually use said gear.

I'm not embarrassed to admit that I'm still using a K10D and a few DA zooms along with some older primes, and for my use they still serve me really well.

But I think the concern here is about direction Pentax is heading, and the conundrum of their current product lineup. A camera brand ecosystem is a big investment, and the current Pentax ecosystem, at least to me, doesn't seem like a good investment at this point.

Judging by the amount of comments these Pentax articles generate it seems Pentax has a passionate user base. I have hope that Pentax Japan keeps these posts on their radar, and that they take the more constructive comments to heart.

But we're a beating a dead horse at this point. I guess only time will tell....

I think some people prefer to complain instead of actually buy a lens that suits them and take photos. So, the DA* prices have gone up; get over it and buy 3rd party lenses until they go down or do not buy DA* lenses at all. SDM has problems in its early designs; drop it. What's wrong with Sigma 8-16mm, Sigma 10-20mm, Tamron 17-50mm, Sigma 17-50, Sigma 24-70mm, Sigma 70-200mm, Tamron 70-200mm?? The lack of WR? OK, so you're all NatGeo photographers or like to shower with your camera... well done, then, maybe you can afford DA* lenses as well. The bottom line is that Pentax mount offers numerous lens choices. Personally, I would probably never spent DA* $$$ because they do not rate that high in my book when there are really good offerings from other lens makers.

John Carlson's forced smile is not any more convincing or reassuring than the current Pentax product lines and prices. Suddenly doubling the price of their DSLR lenses in the US will almost certainly put the final nail in the coffin for Pentax in the USA anyway. Too bad, since Pentax was once a respected name in photography in the USA. At the very least Pentax should put their horrible Q system out of it's misery, and kill it before it dies a slow and miserable death and reduces their credibility as a camera maker even more.

Aren't they just enforcing MAP? AFAIK, the prices have not changed it's just the advertised ones that have. I believe you have to call B&H to get the low prices these days whereas before it was listed in a pop-up window or on your cart.

Seriously though, I paid Australian retail prices for my Pentax lenses and can't figure out what all the fuss is about if you can still get the prices you want, but in a different way.

I've been with Pentax since buying an MX in 1982, but multiple lens failures have finally persuaded me to move away. The K5 is a fantastic camera - as are the KX, K10 and istDS I owned. But my DA*16-50 was repaired twice, and then literally fell apart, now irreparable. My DA*50-135, while first rate optically, has an SDM so stiff it takes 10 minutes to get going, and will surely fail one day. My little-used DA 12-24 now has a loose front barrel which affects focus, also judged to be irreparable. QC on primes seems good, but on premium zooms, it is unacceptably bad.

The unfortunate reality is that the K-01 and the Q aren't logical products.

I personally like the design of the K-01, but it's styling is surely polarizing and would make more sense for a niche product, not as Pentax's only real entry in the mirrorless market. And of course a bulky body, slow AF, no articulating screen, and no option for an EVF beg the question "what's the point?..."

The Q is a cool little camera but the new larger sensor compacts with integral zooms are undoubtedly a more useful overall package, and the obvious buy.

Pentax should cut its losses, kill the Q and its lenses, develop a line mirrorless lenses with K mount adapter, and release a mirrorless body that actually offers the advantages of a mirrorless system. Otherwise the future doesn't look to bright for Pentax.

On the full frame subject the most sensible product would be a full frame Ricoh M mount module for an updated GXR. It would be a niche product but would set that niche on fire for sure. Full frame K mount DSLR, would it tempt me to buy into Pentax? No chance frankly. More good cheap lenses for the K30, K5II might though as there nice cameras.

So, the important thing to realize is that Pentax USA really doesn't do anything but distribution and marketing in this country. They obviously have slightly more connection with Pentax Japan than the average consumer does, but apparently not by much. Whatever customer service people there are in the US often just plain don't have information that Pentax Japan has declined to share with them. I'm not sure why they like to foster an illusion that it's otherwise — it really just makes them look as you say.

I bought a K-30 to use for travel, fun and as a backup having in mind which lenses I would buy going forward - a DA* 16-50 and 50-135. The next week, here in the US, Pentax essentially doubled the prices for ALL of their better glass, i.e., 16-50, 50-135, etc. Like a punch in the stomach, this move drained virtually all my enthusiasm for this system.

Pentax didn't show a whole lot of good will to their loyal US customers with the recent price increases. So sadly I feel my days shooting with my beloved K-30 are numbered.

It's good that US has finally became the part of the rest of the world, so people can pay same prices for camera equipment as the rest of the world was paying for many years already, and subsidising US market. No any more — our prices have dropped just a little too, because we are not subsidising US anymore. Thank you.

You have to do a LOT of reading between the lines with these statements.

What's interesting here is it's not a flat out denial, either on the full frame or on the "between the 645D and the K5" question.

Sounds to me like he's being coy. Also, given recent trends (full frame price drops, decreasing popularity of compact point and shoots) Pentax hands are being increasingly forced.

Recent trends for Pentax models has been to look at where Nikon and Canon are going, and aim products at the perceived "gap" : Q, K-01 being shows that this "leftover niche segment" strategy is not really working out for them.

At the same time they have no modern full frame lens lineup. that's a huge liability.

The K5 was already excellent. The Mk II is a good move. What I think they should be concentrating on next is fixing their SDM problems. A refresh of the DA* series zooms in particular. They are good optically but their reputation for failure and slow focus speed is holding them back.

The new drive is subjectively a bit noisier, but feels faster. I still have to check with an owner of the original SDM drive 16-50 and compare them side by side. Now I§m only comparing to what I remember and that is not enough.

Looking at the roadmap, there are plenty of even better things to come. A DA Limited zoom - a first for the highly-regarded Limiteds, a new walkaround DA* lens, a new long DA tele zoom, among others yet unannounced - I'm glad Ricoh got Pentax from Hoya!

The 1.4X TC wasn't planned for this year, but for "2013 or later" - we should see it next year.Right now, Pentax announced all the lenses planned for this year. Not bad, they had 2 high end lenses and new technologies (HD coating and in lens stabilization for medium format)I'm also interested in that DA Limited zoom.

I'm glad Pentax realizes that not all camera users are FF fanatics who think that FF is the only camera worth considering and that everybody wants one. FF may be in the future for Pentax, but I don't think now is the time.

Depends on the actual difference in image quality and what I want to be shooting for instance. If I do mostly macro work or wildlife photography I could make a real case for the APSC. Night,Action,events,Landscape and I would lean towards the larger sensor.

It seems to me that this sales & marketing guy doesn't really know what is going to come next. Not that I'm surprised, sales guys are sometimes informed after products are announced on their company web site!

I'm surprised their was no question about the GXR line. As someone else already wrote here, a GXR body with built-in EVF (à la NEX6/NEX7) would make a lot of sense. Add a GXR M mount module with FF sensor, and then I might reconsider the system (used to have a GXR+Module in addition to my Leica M8).

"What are your DSLR customers asking for?"1/4 of posts in the Pentax forum are about a Pentax full frame. Is John really that out of touch with the customers or does he just not want to acknowledge the white elephant in the room, which is that FF cameras are the new aps-c and by next year you'll be able to get one for only a couple of hundred dollars more than a flagship aps-c, or a used one for less than an aps-c. Like it or not, At this point- Putting out a FF is the only thing Pentax can do to draw in Nikon/canon/Sony customers and raise eyebrows in the camera world. Fact.

"FF cameras are the new aps-c and by next year you'll be able to get one for only a couple of hundred dollars more than a flagship aps-c, or a used one for less than an aps-c."

Not likely. Maybe a bit further into the future, but nowhere near next year. I don't think even the D700 will cost much less given the specs of the D600; also, until manufacturing FF costs are as low or lower than APS-C, even entry-level FF will remain at a premium price point.

Pentax can't release full frame because they can't back it up with the glass, flashes, the lot.

Immediately after they would release a FF model (which is not a big deal, just take the K5 and slap a bigger mirror and sensor), the users would start requesting for a set of 1.4 primes, for 2.8 quality zooms, for TS lenses, and such. Pentax doesn't have any, nor can they sustain financially and profit-wise, such developments. They don't even have a reliable flash system, and until the k5 2, they had big problems with the Af system in their cameras, in various conditions, let alone the capability to make a 17-35 2.8 that will actually compete with the other manufacturers in optics and price.

Think of it this way, A LOT of people asked for a FF mirorless. Sony released one, how many people are actually going to buy it ? How many pentax users would buy a pentax FF ? And considering the very low sales, would that mean low quality at decent price, or standard quality at a very high price ?

I agree. No point. Play to your strengths already. If you want full frame, buy a Canon or Nikon. Pentax are having a hard enough time gaining traction in the APS-C market without trying to break into a new one.

Pentax has been playing on their aps-c cameras, making it better and better. Aps-c is good, but many Pentax users (especially the paid/pro photographers) are shifting to other brands because of the need for 35mm full frame camera. Other Pentax users didn't shifted, but added another system (Canon/Nikon's FF) on their bag, and just making their Pentax camera a camera-to-go for their family photos or for their rarely weather challenged photo-safari and some uses it if they want a day with just light and small camera...

The FF DSLR market is already well served by C, N & S and any later entry will probably struggle to compete. The FF market that is not well-served by anyone (except Leica at $10K for a very modest RF kit) is a well featured, small, AF and WR, mirrorless ILC. Sony appear to be cracking the ice with the RX1 and one wonders whether a FF ILC version - surely an NEX - will follow.

Pentax have a great reputation for producing competent, smaller, WR cameras, and I'm hoping they might tread that road rather than a FF DSLR. I can only see it being successful if they adopt a new shorter mount and sell a full function K mount adapter (and MF adapters for other brands) to capture legacy lens users.

What is wrong with producing a competent, smaller, weather resistant full frame DSLR? Yes the market is "well served" by others, but then so is the Medium format well served, and APS-C market is also well served. If Pentax is going to retire from markets that are well served, then perhaps they may want to make a twin lens reflex digital camera. It is one market that is not served. Or how about a disposable digital camera in a cardboard box? No one has done that yet. No more excuses.

Your yelling me that if pentax introduced a small, water resistant FF camera with IBS using K mount it wouldn't be pounced on by Sony/Nikon/canon/Leica/fuji shooters?Your crazy. It would be THE hottest camera at the next photokina without a doubt. You think the Sony rx1 made waves? If pentax put out an interchangeable lens version it would bring in new customers at an alarming rate.

To Anastigmat.....Nothing would be wrong with producing a competent, smaller, weather resistant full frame DSLR (and FF lenses from say 8mm to 600mm) if it wasn't a business risk. I doubt anyone posting here actually knows if that market is viable for Pentax, including me. The difference between FF and the APSC market is that Pentax is already in the APSC market. The difference between APSC / FF and the twin lens reflex markets is that (as far as I know) there isn't a twin lens reflex market. The opportunity that Pentax took in the medium format market was that it was absolutely NOT well served at the price/feature point of the 645D.

I think the a99 serves the full frame dSLR market just fine, thank you.

I also think that Pentax is more likely to go with a mirrorless FF camera than a "full frame K5" design. It might be an ILC, but given the lack of existing lenses some sort of RX1 or X100 style "compact" could well be in the cards.

I take back what I said about the Q10... I was so disappointed in the original Q and didn't see the improvements in the Q10. The redesigned grip looks a lot more ergonomic than the original Q and less toy-like. The fake pentaprism shape is more forgiveable, although as soon as they get rid of that, they'll have a near perfect design. Now it's all down to image quality and speed of operation. Perhaps I may be going back to street photography after my GRD II died. Any pancake lens for the Q10 available?

Okay, so I went away and thought about this "first small, APSC-sensor camera" concept. Who did it first, anyway?

The first Samsung NX cameras were:

NX10 -- announced 4th Jan 2010NX5 -- announced 1st June 2010NX11 -- announced 28th December 2010

I'm happy to discount these because Myari seems to be interested in the compact camera form factor, and those early NXes instead followed the mini-DSLR form factor. If we consider only compact camera-styled APSC-sensor cameras, we have:

Sony NEX-5 & NEX-3 -- announced together on 11th May 2010Samsung NX100 -- announced 14th September 2010

In my opinion, people can surely pause before critiquing Pentax for the release of K-01; not only is not fair for a company with such a history, experience, and presence in the photography industry but it also shows ignorance of what K-01 can really do in the hands of a creative person. It is a photographic tool, and a very good one. I have used many cameras in the last several years and the moment I started using K-01 I felt the power behind that yellow rubber and aluminium design. We're not doing Pentax a favour using K-01; it deserves it.

Interesting to read John's responses but as an aside, I think Pentax will eventually release a FF body, (market direction will dictate this), and we'll all be sitting here scratching our heads wondering why it took them so long.

Being last to market with FF isn't gonna help Pentax/Ricoh generate more sales once the market is already saturated with FF bodies.

- Hoya invested as little as possible in Pentax; Ricoh is making big investments

- It takes about 1.5 years to develop a new product

- "We're developing a FF plus other higher-end models, but I can't tell you about them because they're not ready yet"

- The K-01 is Pentax' best video camera, but not what Ricoh (or most buyers) want for the future.

- The Q sells itself as long as we can get it in people's hands (and it's priced right)

- Pentax is getting back into US retail stores

- "We've heard customers concerns and have been working on them for a long time, but you can't see the results yet. Our current products are very good. I don't want to cannibalize current sales, but what's coming is even better."

- "Ricoh is focusing on producing a complete line-up of Pentax DSLR-class products that excel in key performance areas rather than adding frills."

He said recap of the interview and SITUATION. Maybe you should have reread the comment because he said it very plainly. And yes, it is an accurate recap of the interview and the recent developments under Ricoh.

Ricoh has been good for Pentax, but the long-term prognostic cannot be optimistic: Pentax's core selling point is the K-mount - a full-frame mount. Furthermore with the advent of the new mirrorless systems, the future of DSLR's and current DSLR mount cameras at all price levels has to be Full-Frame, however Pentax have no full frame lenses in their range, having committed fully to APS-C in one of many terrible business decisions over the last few years and have insufficient resources to revamp their lens range back to the full-frame standard. This has been the situation for some years now and it isn't being addressed

Throw-in what has been until recently a completely incoherent product and pricing strategy and things look rather bleak

Pentax's best bet would be to partner with Sony, making bodies which support K-mount (via adaptor) and NEX mount lenses. Simultaneously plugging the current gaps in the NEX lens range, selling to a captive market of existing, lens-hungry NEX users

I agree with you concerning the bad decisions they made, especially when Hoya forcibly took over Pentax and tried to milk as much profit as possible from it. However, I disagree that the lens line is a problem. I am sure that Pentax still has all the blueprints for the old FA lenses. Besides, the lack of a lens line did not stop them from making the 645D. Therefore it would be a lame excuse for them to use it for not making a full frame. Forget long-term prognosis, the affordable full frame is here. If pentax does not announce a full frame in development, people may start buying a 6D or D600 and not care to wait any longer. Life is short, and people do not want to wait 5 or 10 years to see if Pentax will or will not bring out a full frame DSLR.

Stop living in the past. Open your eyes and you'll see they're already headed in the right direction for the future.

The majority of current Pentax lenses over 22mm are already FF compatible - they just can't advertise them that way yet. And indications are they're reworking FF designs from the previous generation to fill in the gaps. They're acually only 2-4 lenses away from being able to release a FF today (presuming they had the body ready, which they don't yet).

If you pay closer attention you'll notice the issues ARE being addressed now and they DO have the resources. Like a sports club rising from a string of disappointing seasons, give them a year or two and you'll see the difference.

Small company must play safe with new product launches. K01 was a bold choice, Pentax pays the price for that. A true FF product line is even a bolder decision to make: very high investment needed, therefore not likely very soon. K-5II and K-30 are good improvements of current lineup. The merge of Ricoh and Pentax product lines is a very tough job for the near future. Buyers should keep faith and buy more of the great prime lenses. Pentax should go ahead and divest the unnecessary point and shooters. New strategic directions are not set yet.

Quote "Pentax does not have deep pockets, period".Which period are you talking about?In the year to March 2012 (last full accounts) they had sales of $24.4 billion and shareholders funds of $10.5 billion. That is pretty deep pockets - period.

Now, very well done. Really a bad interview. Either the guy is a marketing idiot, or this is simply sabotage! Why doesn't he talk about the strengths of Pentax (best IQ of a crop camera, superb aps-c lens lineup with the Limiteds, dwarfish size for a true DSLR, etc etc), and I mean really talk, and not only mention it btw and as if he would not believe it himself! What a pity, the K-5 is such a great camera, and the mkII can't be other thing than even better! For my part, I will buy a K-5IIs, and I hope there is a K-3 coming soon (and why not a new line of fast "normal" primes...)

I'm amazed that a company with a rich history in the camera and optics business is bragging about who the "designer" was. Who cares that Mark Newsom was the designer. Photographers do not buy a camera for those reasons.

In fairness, if the K-01 decision was made by the previous owner of Pentax, what are the new owners supposed to say? I think the answer to the question about the future of the product is much more telling.

All that being said, I've used the K-01 and as a camera, it is actually pretty darn good (nice complement to the K-5.)

"It's clear that DSLRs with APS-C sensors don't have such a bright future anymore."

I'd be happy to take a bet on that. Many companies are deeply invested in APS-C lenses and the price-point will always be lower for the consumer. Not to mention if you're into the tele end of photo taking, APS-C has an advantage.

I could accept the idea that it might be phased out someday if they can make make FF sensors that can be priced cheap enough to put into an entry level $600 camera, but to say that it's done and over is a pretty big stretch.

Beats me. Pentax was all ready to go with the full frame with a 6mp CCD Philips sensor 10 years ago, so it is not hard at all if they want to do it. The question is why they won't. It has got to be a psychological reason. Perhaps, someone deep inside the company believes that Pentax will go belly up if they release a full frame, so they would rather go belly up than to release one.

They already have excellent designs for 85/1.4 and 135/1.8 lenses. A 200mm macro as well. There are lots of people out there who would buy any of those lenses tomorrow were they to restart production on them even without the presence of a full frame camera.

because the 85/1.8 s-m-c takumar is a legendary, much coveted lens. i admit there's a nostalgic component. also, at f1.8 this lens would be relatively compact and not obnoxiously heavy, deliver superior image quality with less flare, and, of course, cost less. i primarily use prime lenses so it adds up. extra points if these lenses have the same build quality as the limiteds and "takumar" is engraved on the front.

aps-c dslrs won't die out, obviously, but their niche will contract as full frame becomes more affordable and mirrorless cameras become more capable and their systems more extensive.

The reason Pentax did not go with the 6MP Philips CCD was it it was not worth the money and it was fairly noisy. Contax went ahead with the sensor and where in the world is Contax now? Ended being extinct. The one and only Contax DSLR was their demise.

Not so much for sure, but it will attract new people to Pentax as a brand with a complete line-up.

Right now if I should start photography, I wouldn't pick again Pentax, but Nikon for the D600, or at least an other body but I would know that when I want to, I can upgrade.

I have the K5, and I feel stuck. I don't have the money for a FF right now, but if I knew Pentax had one on the way, I would start to put money in the bank.

Right now, you can't be a serious pro and work in Pentax, it's a shame because the K5 is brilliant, but you just can't work with a K5, you'll always look like a loser compared to photographers with 5D/D800, even if it's stupid, and it is. But that's the way it is.

We need a flagship for Pentax line-up, something to dream on.

Nobody but pros buy 1D-X or D4, but all customers know they're here, and they represent the finest product of their brand, top body, top technology, and you feel confident in your brand. You can't with Pentax.

Sad but true - Pentax needs cash flow to fund these FF dreams. I believe Ricoh/Pentax will make the dream come true in the next year, but selling 1000 lower-spec cameras will serve them better than fifty FF sales and 10 pages of full-frame forum chatter.

not to many would buy it i guess, all real FF lovers switched long time ago, and as kaelis said, there is no reputation, no single pentax at any event, and of course if you take photography serious and did it for a long time, you remember pentax, and you probably owned one and know they where good, when everyone was good, because everything was mechanical and everything was about lenses not bodies and hightech sensors

but if you start today, it would be completly idiotic to pick anything other then canon or nikon, if you seriously want to start photography you buy from a company that has top class state of the art products and that has a name in cameras and optics

so why should a company like pentax, sony, panasonic, sanyo, phillips or any other electronic company bring out ff cameras, other than they make and sell the sensors to other companies so they just bring it out because they can like sony?

@ziza2 : The 645D is perfect for studio photographers (except maybe for the speed), but for photojournalism, street photo or sports, even for concerts and dance shows, it's totally useless. It's for studio, period.

It's evident that there is a huge gap between K5-II and 645D, we hope Ricoh/Pentax would have filled it at Photokina, they didn't. It's a sort of a mockery to release a K5-II and nothing else. The Q10 is a joke, and if the K5 still compete with D300s and 7D, we, Pentaxians, don't have an alternative to the complete FF line-up of Canikon. Let's face it, they are nearly as FF bodies in Nikon current line-up as APS-C : D4/D800/D600 - D3200 - D5100 - D7000 - D300s.

We have nothing but a two years old camera with new AF, an ugly Q, a rebadged Tamron lens, a useless bazooka at 7K.

I really hope there's something to be announced in the next 6 months, even if it's not ready, just to keep us confident.

One of main reasons why peoples are choosing canikon entry level DSLR's over other brands is... "canikon HAS A FF and high end lenses for them" and then "if I ever will go deeper into photography I WILL need a pro system". We all know, that this will happen in 2-3% of cases and it doesn't really matter for them, that pentax makes cheaper or/and better entry level (K30 vs 650D) or mid range (K5 vs 60D) DSLR's. It doesn't really matter how good the product is. The most important thing (especially for newbies) is to know, that the brand which is standing behind your back is strong or stronger than...( you name it).

Kaelis: OK, the 645D is for studio, period... then, explain the weather sealing.The K-5 II make sense; it's an excellent camera, improved. It's not meant to make current K-5 owners upgrade, though - but I have no doubt an upgrade path will be offered. Things could be worse, think about the poor Nikon D300s owners, who don't want to go FF - they are still stuck with that outdated sensor :p

Why can't you be a PRO using Pentax gear? In sunny Singapore, there are PROs who use Pentax gear and they teach photography classes with students who use Canikon gear. I should know as I attended class with another Pentaxian and the PRO teased the class saying that only 2 of us are able to fire like a machine gun as compared to the other Canonkions.

"Right now, you can't be a serious pro and work in Pentax... but you just can't work with a K5, you'll always look like a loser compared to photographers with 5D/D800, even if it's stupid, and it is. But that's the way it is."

But doesn't HAVE to be the way it is (can't be a serious pro...and... look like a loser) --there is a simple solution - seriously (I've seen it done).

1. Get some black gaffer tape (not duct tape nor electrician tape - then you WOULD be a "loser") - and tape over the "Pentax" name on the camera as well as model number.2. Know your equipment and what to do in order to capture a fantastic image - as many, many (maybe most) Pentax owners already do.3. Take the picture.4. Display the results either in print or via digital display (in which case, modify EXIF to disavow any link to Pentax).5. Only on your deathbed, acknowledge all your great work was done using "non-professional" equipment - but even then, don't let anyone know it was Pentax.(:-)

People musn't forget that pentax is reliant on a third party for it's sensors. If that 3rd party for a FF sensor is sony(as you'd expect), then chances are they're under orders to keep quiet so that Sony and Nikon have first run at the market with their new FF offerings.

Why are they asleep? The released the K-30 which has gotten excellent reviews and offers a great deal of value feature wise at it's price point. I have one and think it's great. The 645D is also an absolutely incredible MF camera. They've made some questionable choices, but overall they are still making superb cameras and lenses.

Unbelievable. Pentax would need to stick its head in the sand, and wear a voice cancelling headphone in order to not hear the customers' demand for a full frame DSLR. Sure, all DSLR fans want lenses, but that is not the most urgent need for Pentax, because Pentax fans can buy lenses from Sigma or Tamron but they cannot buy a full frame body if Pentax does not make one.

I like the 645D's market, but the fail on the Q and the K-01. The Q should have been just a toy camera, $400 or less on the body, $200 lenses and cuteness to attract the young buyers. The K-01 on the other hand should have been a little bit more serious and with a removable mount. Even though they don't have RF or mirrorless lenses, let the users buy 3rd party adapter and use leica or Zeiss M lenses.And I bet if Pentax spends the cash they could probably buy a sony ff sensor or something. But they can only compete at the 6D or D600 level. The DSLR line is in tough competition.

A retort that was necessary to point out that Pentax has been too slow to make a FF body that those who realize the benefits of FF have mostly gone elsewhere and are no longer Pentaxians. But if you want Pentax to think that they'll be successful as a serious photography company without a FF body, then feel free--I have no fight in Pentax. But if you do want an FF, you're not going to get it by apologizing for Pentax or posting that only 1% of worldwide buyers want FF.

He can't say, because if what he says is no, there is on room, then we will see a mass exodus of Pentax enthusiasts, because they are still clinging to whatever slim chance that they will see a Pentax FF. Dash those hopes, and these users are gone.

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Pentax has released the first firmware updates to its K-5 II and K-5 IIs digital SLRs, which were released in September of last year. Firmware version 1.01 offers contrast adjustment option for the cameras' LCD displays as well as 'stability improvements'.The updates are available for immediate download from the company's website - click through for download links.

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